Confidentiality

The practice complies with Data Protection and Access to

Medical Records legislation. Identifiable information about

you will be shared with others in the following circumstances:

To provide further medical treatment for you e.g.

from district nurses and hospital services.

To help you get other services e.g. from the social work department.

This requires your consent.

When we have a duty to others e.g. in child protection cases

Anonymised patient information will also be used at local and national level

to help the Health Board and Government plan services e.g. for diabetic care.

If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way,

please let us know.

Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records

in order to do their jobs.

These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.

Suggestions & Complaints

HELP US TO HELP YOU

Any comments, criticism or suggestions are very welcome and can be either made anonymously via the suggestion box at reception or to our practice manager Mrs Pat Wilson.

We are a training practice and occasionally have a medical student sitting in with the doctor. You will be made aware of this when you arrive for your appointment and your privacy will be respected.

From time to time we randomly send out questionnaires to help us improve our service to you. Please help us to assess our practice by completing it if you receive one.

PRACTICE AIMS

• To provide all appropriate personal medical care and attention to those in need. 
• To provide such care and attention in a friendly practice setting.
• To continue our quest for excellence in family care by keeping abreast of new developments.
• To seek the most appropriate care available when referring our patients for specialised investigation or treatment. 
• To monitor the care received by our patients from their National Health Service according to “The Patients Charter.” 
• To be available individually to our patients whenever possible.
• We believe that all patients have an equal right to access Health Care Provision but should use the service responsibly.
• The practice complies with the Data Protection Act and strict guidelines of confidentiality.

As a patient of the practice we expect you to:

• Treat the doctors and practice staff with courtesy
• Be punctual for appointments
• Give the practice as much notice as possible if you are unable to keep your appointment. 
• Be prepared to see another doctor if your usual doctor is unavailable
• Keep non urgent calls to a time when the telephones are less busy
• If you wish to speak to someone outside the practice i.e Pharmacy, Treatment Room, Podiatry etc please contact our main switchboard on 028 9441 3900

Patient Behaviour

The practice considers aggressive behaviour

to be any personal, abusive or threatening

comments, bad language, physical contact or

aggressive gestures.

In keeping with the rest of the

National Health Service we

are required to protect our staff.

This means that no

abuse to staff or ourselves is acceptable

whether verbal or physical.

Any patient behaving in this manner

will be removed from our list.

Chaperone 

When a patient (male or female) requires an intimate examination they can request a chaperone irrespective the gender of the doctor or nurse.

The Doctor or Nurse carrying out the examination will explain the procedure and the reason for the examination.  Verbal and written consent must be obtained prior to the procedure. 

Patient's dignity, privacy and confidentially are taken into consideration when the use of a chaperone is used.

The GP or Nurse are at liberty to ask for a chaperone if they feel the situation warrants it.  Should the patient refuse, the GP or Nurse can inform the patient that the examination will not take place unless a third party is present.  This must be recorded in the patients record.

If an intimate examination procedure is necessary as part of a home visit, the patient should be offered the choice of a chaperone present i.e. a family member or friend.

An explanation of the practice protocol on use of chaperones i.e. as a means of protection for patients and staff is available to all patients at reception.